Combination lock



April 2, 1929.

w J. E. CONVERSE 1,707,797

COMBINATION LOCK Filed April '7, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III/I4 III I (III/Ill; IIIIIII 'IIIIIIIIII mum INVENTOR. By John 1 ATTORNEY.

' merals indicate like Patented Apr; 2, 1929.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. CONVERSE, OF ALMA, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDMUND T.

WILLIAMS, OF ALMA, MICHIGAN. I

COMBINATION LOCK.

Application filed April 7, 1927. Serial No. 181,688.

This invention relates to looks and particuby listening or the'touch system, and whichgives no indication externally of the position of the locking parts.

A fln'ther object is to provide a si1nple,'-positive and substantial lock which is economical to manufacture and assemble, and easy to install. I

A further object still is to design a combination lock mechanism capable of a large number of different combinations, and on which the combinations can be readily changed.

The above and other objects will appear as the specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, and in which like reference nuparts throughout the several views thereof.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a top plan or face view of my improved lock, showing it in locking position,

the dotted line position of the handle showing it in unlocked position. I 1 Fig. 2 is a side. view of the lock, the case being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the center plate showing the mechanism mounted thereon and in locked position.

Fig. 4 is a viewsimi'lar to Fig. 3, the mechanism being shown'turned to unlocked positlon.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing one of the locking'units.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the center plate. Fig. 7 is a sectional edge view thereof. Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the back plate.

Fig. 9 is a sectional edge view thereof. Fig. 10 is a sectional edge View showing the assembly of the back and center plates.

of the lock which is turned individual members,

Fig. 11 is an edge view of the center gear and pinion.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional ,view

showing the construction of the gears and the manner of securing them in the face plate.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary part sectional side view showing the machanism for securing the lock in its case.

of the center shaft and showing the pocket to accommodate the locking pin.

Referring now particularly to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates the face plate and shouldered as shown at 6, a dial plate 7 being secured to the face thereof in any approved manner, and on which suitable indicia are provided so that the various combinations may be indicated, and while I have shown the face and dial plates as it will of course be obvious that these may be in one piece if desired.

A centrally disposed opening is provided Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional plan view accommodates a center shaft 8 on which a locking handle 9 issecurely mounted. Spaced apart openings are provided in the dial and face plates, and gear units 10 are mounted therein, posed pin 11, on which a gear 12 is rigidly mounted, the upper end of said gear being smooth, and a circumferential groove 13 is formed intermediate the length thereof, said unit being held in position in the plate by means of a screw 14 which is threadedinto the edge of the face plate, the end thereof projecting into the ig. 12 of the drawings.

A knob 15 is rigidly mounted on the upper end of the pin 11 and an indicator 16 is interposed between the knob and the top of the gear 12 and is rotatable with the said knob.

the dial and face plates respectively, and

each unit comprising a centrally disgroove and as shown-in The end of the pin projects beyond the gear,

and is adapted to be seated in'a recess 17 provided in the center plate 18.

I also wish to direct attention to the teeth on the gear 12. one tooth 19 being but half the length of the others, and one complete tooth is cut away on either the space between the next two teeth being filled with solder or other metal, and act as stops for a purpose and in a manner to be presently describedy side of said tooth,

'11 looking pinion 20 is mounted on or formed integral with the shaft 21, the upper end of said shaft being threaded, and engages a threaded opening 22 provided in the face plate, the lower end being smooth and is seated in an opening 23 provided in the center plate, the teeth of the pinion meshing with and being rotated by the rotation of the gear 12, and rotation of this pinion (througlrinstrumentality of the gear 12) naturally raises or lowers this shaft and pinion, due to the threaded end thereof engaging the threaded opening in the face plate.

The center plate 18 is spaced from the face cut away as shown at 28 in Figs. 3 and 4 of I the drawings, so that when the mechanism is combination to unlock in locked position (as shown in Fig. 3) these sections will be directly adjacent the gears 12, so that said gears can be freely rotated without engaging the teeth of the gear, and the knobs can be turned to secure the proper the mechanism. Spaced apart upwardly projecting teeth or pins 29 are also provided on the rim of said gear, and function only when the locking lever 9 nears the extreme left or unlocked position when the gear 27 will have turned the gears 12 to position to permit this gear 27 to clear the cutaway spaces or portions of the gears 12, this clearance is however very slight and 'it would be possible for the gears 12 to mesh with the gear 27 when the locking handle is turned to locked position, and I have therefore increased this clearance by providing the pins 29 which engage the single tooth 19 in the gears 12, this also serves to hold the gears 12, preventing its movement dueto vibration or any other cause and so that it always remains 1n proper position and will not engage with the gear 27 when looking.

The lower face of the center plate 18 is recessed as shown at 30 and forms an outer rim 31, a back plate .32 being mounted in said recess, and is provided with a centrally disposed squared opening 33 through which the center shaft 8 extends, a pin 34 projecting from the edge of the back plate, and a section of the rim 31 is cut away as shown at 35 to accommodate said pin, and limit the rotary movement of the back plate with relation to the center plate.

Spaced apart pockets or openings 36 are provided in the back plate, and small coil springs 37 are mounted in each pocket, a tumbler 38 being mounted on each spring, and when the mechanism isin locked position, these pockets 36 are in direct vertical alinement with the openings 23 provided in the center plate, and into which the tumblers extend, these spring actuated tumblers being forced down into the back plate by rotation of the gear 12 which in turn actuates the pinion 20 to impart vertical movement thereto, the end of the shaft 21 forcing the tumblers down flush with the face of the back plate so that the back plate can be rotated with relation to the center plate.

A tapered pin 39 extends transversely through the squared end 8 of thecenter shaft, and a coiled spring 39 is interposed between said pin and the back plate for'holding it tightly in position, the end of the shaft projecting through the casing, a crank lever or any other attachment (not shown) being attached thereto for imparting motion as the shaft is turned.

A. cylindrical case or housing 40 encloses the mechanism, the upper end being open and is enlarged to receive and cover the edges of the dial and face plates,a suitable opening 41 being provided in the-bottom to accommodate a tube or other attachment.

WVhen the lock is in unlocked position, the indicators are positioned at 0 on each respective dial, the locking lever is at unlocked position, and the ends of the pinion shafts 21 are withdrawn from the back plate, the locking lever is then moved to locked position, this brings the pockets 36 in the back plate into direct vertical alinement with the openings in the center plate 18, the springs 37 force the tumblers to. project into the openings and the mechanism is locked. Each respective knob is then rotated so that thepointer indicates the correct position, and the pinion shaft forces the ends of the tumblers flush with the face of the back plate and the locking handle can then be swung to unlocked position.

The dead spaces 42 in the gear 12 prevent continuous rotation of the dials and insure the starting point always being the same.

For securing the lock in its case or housing I provide aboss 43 on the bottom ofthe face plate 5, a longitudinally disposed opening 44 extends through said boss, and is shouldered as shown at 45 to form a seat for a spring 46, a pin 47 being mounted in said opening, and is also provided with an enlarged shoulder or head 48, which is adapted to engage the outer end of the spring, the outer end of said pin projecting into an opening 40 provided in the wall of the housing,

and when the pin 47 is in position as shown in Fig. 13 of the drawing, the lock will be locked in the housing, but can be removed by inserting a pointed instrument through the opening 40 and forcing the pin inwardly, the

only possible however when the lock is in unlocked position, as in locked position the pocket in the center shaft 8 will be out of alinen'ient with the pin 47 and cannot be forced inward as the end of the pin will butt against the shaft 8.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that I haveperfected a very simple, substantial and economical combination lock capable of a great number of different combinations.

What I claim is 1. A combination lock comprising a back plate having spaced apart pockets therein, spring actuated tumblers mounted in said pockets, a second plate mounted thereon and provided with openings in direct vertical alinement with said pockets, and revoluble means for forcing the heads of the tumblers flush with the top of the back plate.

2. A combination lock comprising a back plate provided with spaced apart pockets, spring actuated tumblers mounted therein, a stationary plate mounted on the back plate and having openings therein in direct vertical alinement with the pockets in the back plate, revoluble means for forcing the tumblers out engagement with the stationary plate to permit rotation of the back plate and means for limiting said rotary movement.

3. A combination lock comprising a back plate provided with spaced apart spring actuated tumblers mounted therein, a stationary plate mounted thereon and provided with spaced apart openings into which said tumblers extend, revoluble and positive means for forcing said tumblers flush with the face of the back plate to permit the plate to be rotated, and means on the back plate and engaging said stationary plate for limiting the rotary movement thereof.

4. A combination lock comprising a face plate, a center plate spaced therefrom, a back plate provided with spaced apart pockets,

spring actuated tumblers mounted in said pockets," .said center plate being provided with openings in direct alinement with said tumblers, vertically adjustable revoluble shafts projecting into said openings for compressing the tumblers to permit the back plate to be rotated, and means for limiting said rotation.

apart face and center plates, a back plate having pockets therein, spring actuated means in said pockets and openings in the center plate and intowhich said means project, a threaded shaft, one end of which pro j ects into said openings in the center plate, a pinion mounted thereon and means for operating said pinlon.

6. A combination lock comprising spaced apart face and center plates, a back plate having pockets therein, spring actuated tumblers mounted in said pockets, openings m the center plate and into which said tumblers project, spacedvapart shafts mounted in saidface plate and center plate respectively, and having a threaded end, a pinion mounted on each shaft, gears adjacent said pinions and adapted when rotated to actuate said pinions and force the tumblers flush with the face of the back plate.

7. A combination lock comprising spaced apart face and center plates, a lock shaft journaled therein, means for locking said center plate and back plate together, vertically disposed shafts mounted in the face and center plates and provided with threaded ends adapted to engage threaded openings provided in the face plate, pinions mounted on said shafts, and gears meshing therewith and adapted when rotated to actuate said pinions, whereby the ends of the shaft will force the locking means into the back plate.

8. A combination lock comprising spaced apart face and center plates, a back plate, spring actuated means mounted therein and extending into the center plate, vertically adjustable shafts mounted in the face and center plate respectively, and adapted to actua'te said spring actuated means, and gears for actuating, said vertically adjustable shafts. 4

'9. A combination lock comprising spaced apart face and center plates, a back plate, locking means mounted thereon, a center shaft, a center gear mounted thereon, spaced apart gears meshing therewith, and means actuated by said gears for actuating said locking means.

10. A combination lock comprising spaced apart face and center plates, a back plate, spring actuated locking means mounted in said back plate, and adapted to hold said plates stationary with relation to each other, a center gear, spaced apart gears meshing therewith and means co-operating with said gears for actuating said locking means.

11. A combination lock comprising spaced apart face and center plates, a locking shaft journaled therein, a back plate mounted on said shaft, locking means mounted in said plate, vertically adjustable shafts mounted in said face and center plates respectively, pinions mounted thereon, and spaced apart I gears meshing therewith and adapted when 5. A combination lock comprising spaced means mounted on the face plate and engaging the housing for locking the lock in said housing.

13. A combination lock comprising a center shaft having a pocket therein, center and back plates mounted thereon, means for locking said back and center plate together, a housing, spring actuated means mounted on said face plate and engaging an opening in v 5 the housing for holding it in locked position,

said pocket being adapted, when the lock mechanism is in unlocked position, to be in alincment with and accommodate the end of the pin to permit it to be forced out of engagement With said housing. 10

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

' JOHN E. CONVERSE. 

